2024-11-07
The National Bank of Moldova issued Decision No 280 to approve a regulation imposing strict anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing requirements on non-bank financial institutions, including credit organizations, savings and loan associations, and life insurers. The regulation mandates that these entities develop and implement comprehensive internal programs, conduct annual risk assessments using a risk-based approach, and enforce rigorous customer due diligence and beneficial ownership verification procedures. Additionally, it establishes clear responsibilities for senior management, requires annual internal audits, and dictates protocols for reporting suspicious transactions and adhering to international financial sanctions.
1 NATIONAL BANK DECISION No 280 of 7 November 2024 on the approval of the Regulation on the requirements for the prevention and combating of money laundering and terrorism financing in the activity of nonbank financial institutions Published: 15.11.2024 in the OFFICIAL GAZETTE No 470-472 Article 897 Pursuant to Article 27, paragraph (1), (c) of Law No 548/1995 on the National Bank of Moldova (republished in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Moldova, 2015, No 297-300, Article 544), Article 106 paragraph (11), of Law No 92/2022 on Insurance and Reinsurance activity (Official Gazette of the Republic of Moldova, 2022, No 129-133 Article 229), Article 13, paragraphs (3) and (14), Article 15, paragraph (2) of Law No 308/2017 on the prevention and combating of money laundering and terrorism financing (Official Gazette of the Republic of Moldova, 2018, No 58-66, Article 133), the Executive Board of the National Bank of Moldova DECIDES:
CHAIRMAN OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD Anca-Dana DRAGU
No 280 Chişinău, 7 November 2024
2 Annex to the Decision of the Executive Board of the National Bank of Moldova No 280 of November 7, 2024 REGULATION on the requirements for the prevention and combating of money laundering and terrorism financing in the activity of non-bank financial institutions CHAPTER I GENERAL PROVISIONS
3 legal entity identifier – an alphanumeric code, consisting of 20 characters, uniquely identifying a legal entity, established in accordance with ISO 17442 standard. CHAPTER II RESPONSIBILITIES 5. The non-bank financial institution develops and implements the internal programme for the prevention and combating of money laundering and terrorism financing. 6. The non-bank financial institution has an adequate internal control system to identify, assess, monitor, and understand the risks of money laundering and terrorism financing. It takes the necessary measures, involving sufficient resources, to minimize and effectively manage the identified risks. 7. The non-bank financial institution is responsible for the approval and effective implementation of the internal programme for the prevention and combating of money laundering and terrorism financing and compliance of the activity with the provisions of the legislation on the prevention and combating of money laundering and terrorism financing. 8. The non-bank financial institution designates individuals from among the members of the board and/or the executive body, including senior management and/or the administrator, entrusted with the duties of enforcing the requirements of the regulatory acts in the field of prevention and combating of money laundering and terrorism financing, and ensuring compliance of policies and procedures with these requirements. 9. The internal audit subdivision of the non-bank financial institution or an external audit entity/auditor conducts, at least annually, an assessment of the adequacy and compliance of the non-bank financial institution 's activities with the internal programme for the prevention and combating of money laundering and terrorism financing. The results of the assessment must be communicated to the manager/members of the board and/or the executive body and, upon request, to the National Bank of Moldova. CHAPTER III REQUIREMENTS REGARDING THE INTERNAL PROGRAMME FOR THE PREVENTION AND COMBATING OF MONEY LAUNDERING AND TERRORISM FINANCING 10. Non-bank financial institution develops the internal programme for the prevention and combating of money laundering and terrorism financing in accordance with the provisions of Law No 308/2017 on the prevention and combating of money laundering and terrorism financing, the present Regulation, the regulatory acts of the Office for Prevention and Fight against Money Laundering, issued for the execution of this law taking into account the generally accepted practice in this field, including the documents of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The internal programme for the prevention and combating of money laundering and terrorism financing represents policies, methods, practices, procedures, and internal controls, including know-your-customer rules, that promote ethical and professional standards in the non-bank sector and that aim to
4 prevent the use of non-bank financial institutions for the purpose of money laundering or terrorism financing by organized criminal groups or their associates. This programme must ensure that operations are conducted in a safe and prudent manner. 11. In developing the internal programme, the size, complexity, nature, and volume of the non-bank financial institution's activities are taken into account, along with the types (categories) of customers, the degree (level) of risk associated with different customers or their categories and the operations conducted by them, as well as the agents and branches through which they operate. The internal programme is approved by the designated senior management person responsible for ensuring compliance of the non-bank financial institution's policies and procedures with the legal requirements on preventing and combating money laundering and terrorism financing. 12. The internal programme for the prevention and combating of money laundering and terrorism financing includes, without being limited to, the following:
5 2) procedures for identifying, assessing, controlling, and undertaking measures to minimize the risks of money laundering and terrorism financing. 3) customer acceptance procedures establishing at least the categories of customers that the non-bank financial institution aims to attract and the hierarchical level of staff approving the initiation of business relationship with them, depending on the degree of associated risk and the types of products and services that are provided to them; 4) measures to identify, verify and monitor customers and beneficial owners according to the degree of associated risk (know-your-customer rules), the criteria and the way to move customers from one risk category to another; 5) procedures and requirements for the application of customer due diligence measures, including simplified and enhanced due diligence measures for each category of customers, products, services or transactions subject to such measures, as well as risk management measures in the case of establishing the business relationship until the verification of the identity of the customer and the beneficial owner; 6) procedures for monitoring customer transactions in order to detect significant, complex and unusual transactions without a clear legal or economic purpose, suspicious activities and transactions; 7) measures to identify and monitor customers and their transactions with countries/jurisdictions that do not have effective systems in place to prevent and combat money laundering and terrorism financing, or are at higher risk due to high levels of criminality and corruption and/or are involved in terrorist activities; 8) the method of collecting and storing data, as well as how access to it is established; 9) internal reporting procedures and reporting to the competent authorities regarding suspicious money laundering or terrorism financing activities and transactions, or non-compliance with internal procedures or regulatory acts in the field of prevention and combating of money laundering and terrorism financing; 10) procedures and measures for verifying compliance with the rules developed and assessing their effectiveness; 11) standards for the selection, hiring and ongoing training programmes for staff in the field of prevention and combating of money laundering and terrorism financing; 12) procedures for identifying and assessing money laundering and terrorism financing risks, including measures to minimize them, related to the use of information technologies, including new ones, procured, or developed within the products and services offered by the non-bank financial institution. 13. The non-bank financial institution reviews (updates), whenever necessary, the internal programme for the prevention and combating of money laundering and terrorism financing, but at least annually, taking into account the provisions of the legislation in the field of prevention and combating of money laundering and terrorism financing.
6 CHAPTER IV ASSESSMENT OF MONEY LAUNDERING AND TERRORISM FINANCING RISKS. THE RISK-BASED APPROACH 14. The non-bank financial institution is obliged to:
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8 22. The non-bank financial institution does not establish business relationships with individuals, groups or entities involved in terrorist activities and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, included in the list referred to in Article 34, paragraph (11) of Law No 308/2017 on the prevention and combating of money laundering and terrorism financing. The non-bank financial institution informs the Office for Prevention and Fight against Money Laundering without delay about the refusal to establish business relationships with a customer, within 24 hours at the latest, submitting all the data held regarding the case. 23. The customer acceptance procedures do not affect the general public’s access to the services offered by non-bank financial institution in the non-bank market. Section 2 Customer due diligence measures 24. The non-bank financial institution applies, on a risk-sensitive basis, customer and beneficial owner due diligence measures:
9 c) state identification number (IDNO), according to the certificate of registration and/or the extract from the State Register issued by the competent authority with the right to carry out the state registration; d) mailing address other than the registered office (if any); e) identity of the natural person empowered to manage the account (representative), legality of the powers of attorney (in the absence of such a person, the administrator of the legal entity is indicated); f) identity of the beneficial owner of the legal entity; g) identity of persons holding senior management positions and their powers of representation; h) rights and obligations of the company's senior management body, as evidenced by the primary registration documents or the articles of incorporation; i) nature and purpose of the business, and their legitimacy; j) the purpose and nature of the business relationship or occasional transaction (the purpose of initiating the business relationship or conducting the occasional transaction, the type of product and service requested, the type of transactions, the expected volume of assets to be deposited, the expected volume and frequency of transactions, the potential duration of the business relationship, etc.); 3) for trusts and similar legal arrangements: a) name and proof of incorporation/registration, trust deed; b) registered office/business address and country of registration; c) nature, purpose and object of the activity (as an example: discretionary, testamentary, etc.); d) the identity of the founder, administrator, protector (if any), beneficiaries or classes of beneficiaries and any other person who ultimately exercises effective control (in the case of other types of legal arrangements similar to trusts - the identity of persons holding equivalent positions); e) description of the purpose/activity; f) the purpose and nature of the business relationship or occasional transaction (the purpose of initiating the business relationship or conducting the occasional transaction, the type of product and service requested, the type of transactions, the expected volume of assets to be deposited, the expected volume and frequency of transactions, the potential duration of the business relationship, etc.); 4) for the beneficiaries of life insurance (life insurance policies) and insurance with investment participation (annuities), in addition, the following data will be obtained: a) the name of the person in the case of beneficiaries who are persons identified by name (the full name of the beneficiary of the life insurance policy); b) for beneficiaries designated by characteristics or category (e.g. spouse or children at the time the insured event occurs) or by other means (e.g. by will), sufficient information on the beneficiaries is obtained, so that the non-bank financial institution can establish their identity at the time of payment. 26. When identifying a higher degree of risk and applying enhanced customer due diligence measures, the non-bank financial institution obtains, in addition to the measures set out in point 25, the following information:
10 b) postal code, email address, mobile phone number; c) resident/non-resident status; (d) gender (sex); e) name of employer, if any; f) source of the customer's wealth; g) source of funds related to the transaction; 2) for legal entities and individual entrepreneurs: (a) unique company identifier, if any; b) telephone number, email and fax (if any); c) financial situation; d) source of funds related to the transaction; 3) for trusts or similar legal arrangements: a) telephone number, email address and fax (if any); b) source of funds related to the transaction. 27. In the case of an assignment, in whole or in part, to a third party of life insurance and insurance with investment participation provided for in insurance legislation, the non-bank financial institution aware of the assignment identifies the beneficial owner at the time of the assignment to the natural person or legal entity who receives, for their own benefit, the value of the assigned policy. 28. The non-bank financial institution identifies the beneficial owner of the customer and take reasonable, appropriate, and risk-based measures to verify the beneficial owner’s identity, ensuring that it knows who the beneficial owner is and understands the customer’s ownership and control structure. For the identification of the beneficial owner, the non-bank financial institution obtains at least the information described in point 25, subpoint (1), (a) - (f), and, depending on the identified risk, additionally point 26, subpoint (1), (a)-(f). 29. When identifying the beneficial owner of the customer - legal entity, including in the case where the customer has a complex ownership structure (a legal entity whose direct owners are not natural persons), the non-bank financial institution determines the beneficial owner on the basis of the relevant registration documents. If there are no grounds for suspicion regarding the concealment of information about the beneficial owner and if, after exhausting all possible means established in accordance with point 28, it is determined that no individual meets the legal criteria to be identified as the beneficial owner (no natural person is a majority shareholder or exercises control directly or indirectly – through other means), then, as an exception, the natural person holding the position of administrator of the client is considered the beneficial owner. The non-bank financial institution keeps all the information and documents gathered in the process of determining the beneficial ownership of the legal entity customer, including those proving the exhaustion of all possible means of identification and submits them, upon request, to the National Bank of Moldova and to the Office for Prevention and Fight against Money Laundering. When identifying the beneficial owner of for-profit (commercial) legal entities, non-commercial organizations, trusts or similar legal arrangements or other types of legal entities (including those that manage and distribute funds), the non-bank financial institution takes into account the identification criteria set out in Article 52 of Law No 308/2017 on the prevention and combating of money laundering and terrorism financing and the
11 Office for Prevention and Fight against Money Laundering regarding the identification of the beneficial owner. 30. When the customer or the controlling shareholder is a company whose securities are traded on a regulated market/multilateral trading system that imposes disclosure requirements, either through stock exchange rules or applicable law, to ensure adequate transparency of the beneficial owner, or when it is a majorityowned branch of such a company, there is no need to identify and verify the identity of any of the shareholders or beneficial owners of such companies. The non-bank financial institution obtains the relevant identification data from public registers, the customer or from other reliable sources. 31. The non-bank financial institution determines whether the natural or legal person initiating a business relationship is acting on their own behalf (the person's declaration regarding the beneficial owner). If the business relationship is initiated by a representative, the non-bank financial institution requests a power of attorney, legalized in accordance with the legal requirements. The non-bank financial institution applies measures to identify the representative and assesses the need for enhanced due diligence measures, in accordance with the provisions of this Regulation. The person's declaration regarding the beneficial owner is completed by the beneficial owner or their representative and contains information as outlined in point 25, subpoint (1), (a)-(f), and, depending on the identified risk, additionally point 26, subpoint (1), (a)-(f). 32. When identifying the customer, the non-bank financial institution verifies the information submitted which relates to both the customer and the beneficial owner. 33. The non-bank financial institution verifies the identity of the customer and of the beneficial owner at the initiation of the business relationship, and in lowrisk situations, according to point 53 subpoint 1) of this Regulation. 34. The non-bank financial institution verifies the identity of the beneficiaries of the life insurance (life insurance policies) and insurance with investment participation (annuities) referred to in point 25 subpoint 4), at the time of payment. 35. The non-bank financial institution uses documents, data and information obtained from reliable and independent sources to verify the information submitted when identifying customers and beneficial owners. The measures applied must be proportionate to the risk posed by the customer and the types of documents presented. To this end, the non-bank financial institution uses documentary and non-documentary verification procedures:
12 d) confirmation of the residence address by requesting utility bills, tax payment documents, information from public authorities or other persons; e) confirmation of the information submitted after opening the account/establishing the business relationship - by contacting the customer by phone or sending a letter to confirm the information provided, fax or email (if any); f) verification of the reference provided by another non-bank financial institution/bank; g) verification of information by using public, private or other reliable and independent sources (e.g. references provided by credit history bureaus); 2) for customers - legal entities and individual entrepreneurs - by any appropriate method depending on the degree of risk, so that the non-bank financial institution can ensure the veracity of the information, such as: a) verifying the legal existence of the legal entity by checking the entry in the State Register of Legal Entities or, as the case may be, in another public or private register or other reliable independent sources (as an example: lawyers, accountants, etc.). b) obtaining a copy of the articles of incorporation or the memorandum of association, partnership agreement; c) checking information about the client in public or private databases regarding existing business relationships; d) analysing the financial situation, if applicable; e) conducting a verification and/or investigation either individually or through another person to determine, the existence of insolvency or liquidation, sale or resolution of other potential financial problems; f) obtaining the reference of a non-bank financial institution/bank with which the customer has had previous business relationships, if any; g) contacting the customer by telephone or fax, by postal services or e-mail, checking the information placed on the customer's website, if any, or visiting the headquarters or other business address indicated by the legal entity and the individual entrepreneur; h) verifying the company’s unique identifier and the related data in the public access database. 3) fiduciaries or similar legal arrangements, the non-bank financial institution verifies the information at least by obtaining a copy of the document confirming the nature and legal existence of the account holder (e.g. fiduciary deed, trust declaration, register of charities, etc.). Other verification procedures may include: a) confirmation of the documents submitted by an independent, reputable source such as a law firm /associate firm of lawyers, accountants, etc.; b) obtaining the reference of the non-bank financial institution/bank until the business relationship is established; c) accessing or searching private and public databases or other independent and trusted sources; d) verification of the identity of the authorized persons and the beneficial owner; 4) for the beneficial owner - the measures set out in subpoint 1); 5) if a person is authorized on behalf of the customer to open an account or carry out transactions, the non-bank financial institution verifies the identity of that
13 person, as well as the identity of the person on whose behalf they are acting, using the same procedures as described in this Regulation. 36. Documents submitted for the purpose of identifying the customer and the beneficial owner, as well as verifying their identity, are valid on the date of their submission and copies of them are stored/archived by the non-bank financial institution in accordance with established internal procedures. The documents are submitted by the customer in original or certified copy (photocopy), in accordance with the applicable legislation. In the case of submission of documents in copy (photocopy) which are not duly certified, the non-bank financial institution requires the submission of the original documents to corroborate the information and data provided. In case of remote identification and verification of the customer’s identity, the non-bank financial institution requests and obtains the necessary information and documents in accordance with the regulations of the National Bank of Moldova regarding the requirements for identification and verification of the customers’ identity through electronic means. 37. When identifying and verifying the identity of the customer, the non-bank financial institution obtains and processes personal data, including through electronic identification means, in accordance with the requirements of Law No 133/2011 on the protection of personal data. 38. Throughout the business relationship, the non-bank financial institution reviews and updates the information regarding the identification of customers and beneficial owners according to the associated risk. It updates the information as necessary, taking into account the relevant factors, but at a minimum, for high-risk customers - annually, for medium-risk customers - every two years, and for lowrisk customers - every three years. Relevant factors that may trigger the need to update the information include at a minimum: the previous non-application of identification measures, the period of their application, the adequacy of the data obtained, new regulatory requirements for due diligence measures and/or changes in relevant circumstances regarding the customer. Section 3 Measures to monitor activities and transactions 39. The non-bank financial institution adjusts the extent of the measures for monitoring customer activities and operations based on the institutional risk assessment and individual customer risk profiles. Enhanced monitoring is applied in higher risk situations. Monitoring systems must be reviewed periodically, but no less frequently than once a year. 40. The non-bank financial institution continuously monitors the activities, operations or business relationship with the customer. Continuous monitoring actions include:
14 achieved by setting transaction value limits for a particular group or category of transactions. Particular attention is paid to transactions that exceed these value limits and to transactions which have no clear economic purpose; 3) verifying whether the documents and information gathered in the process of monitoring customers and transactions are up to date and relevant, including for higher risk categories of customers or business relationships; 4) identifying suspicious activities and transactions, including suspicious activities and transactions, including potential ones, as well as the sources of the funds used in these activities and transactions; 5) reporting to the person responsible with senior management functions the information necessary to effectively identify, analyse and monitor customer accounts and transactions, including those of high-risk customers; 6) real-time monitoring of all transactions (payments) made by customers or potential customers in order to detect persons, groups or entities involved in terrorist activities and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, including for the purpose of identifying payments to prevent them from being made in violation of sanctions, prohibitions or other applied restrictions. 41. The non-bank financial institution pays close attention to all significant, complex and unusual transactions that apparently have no legal or economic purpose. The non-bank financial institution examines the nature and purpose of such transactions, documents its findings in writing and takes enhanced due diligence measures in accordance with the requirements of this Regulation. In such cases, the non-bank financial institution obtains supporting documents when carrying out the transactions and determines the source of funds used (contracts, tax invoices/invoices, shipping documents, customs declarations, salary certificates, tax reports, activity reports, other documents). 42. The person in senior management at the non-bank financial institution is responsible for documenting, maintaining, and communicating the results of monitoring to the relevant staff, as well as addressing any issues that arise and ensuring their resolution. 43. The non-bank financial institution, ex officio or upon request, refrains from carrying out activities and transactions with goods, including financial assets, for a period of 5 working days, if it establishes suspicions that may indicate money laundering, predicate offenses, terrorism financing, or the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, whether these are at the stage of preparation, attempt, ongoing or have been already completed. 44. The non-bank financial institution applies the requirements of point 43 at the request of the Office for Prevention and Fight against Money Laundering or on its own initiative. When applying the requirements of point 43 on its own initiative, the non-bank financial institution informs immediately, but not later than 24 hours from the time of refraining, the Office for Prevention and Fight against Money Laundering of the decision taken. 45. The non-bank financial institution, in case of application of the requirements of point 43, may require the customer to provide additional data and information, including supporting documents relating to the transactions carried out, in order to properly apply the due diligence measures, and in particular, to
15 understand the purpose and nature of the business relationship and the source of the assets involved. 46. The measures applied in accordance with point 43 may be terminated ex officio at the expiry of the term for which they were applied or before the expiry of the term only with the written permission of the Office for Prevention and Fight against Money Laundering. The provisions of this point do not exempt the non-bank financial institution from the obligations laid down in Article 5 paragraph (3) of Law No 308/2017 on the prevention and combating of money laundering and terrorism financing and the internal programme, developed in accordance with point 12. 47. The non-bank financial institution is obliged:
16 of money laundering and terrorism financing, including through customer due diligence and data retention measures, and; 2) third parties are not resident in high-risk jurisdictions. 50. Non-bank financial institutions that use third parties have effective procedures in place to ensure that they immediately obtain from them:
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18 CHAPTER VII ENHANCED CUSTOMER DUE DILIGENCE MEASURES 56. In order to apply the legislation on the prevention and combating of money laundering and terrorism financing, the non-bank financial institution establishes the categories of customers, activities and transactions that present a higher degree of risk, based on indicators established according to the volume of transactions carried out, the type of services requested, the type of activity carried out, the economic circumstances, the reputation of the customer's country of origin, the plausibility of the explanations provided by the customer, the pre-established value limits for each category of transactions. 57. Based on its own assessment, the non-bank financial institution identifies the factors that give rise to heightened risks and determine the need for enhanced customer due diligence measures. The risk-enhancing factors are as follows: a) for the non-bank lending sector:
19 17) the customer requests a change in the usual method of repayment of the loan/credit, without any clear and well-founded arguments; 18) payments received from unknown or unrelated third parties; 19) the leased asset is used by a third party in the absence of a specific legal relationship with the lessee; 20) other factors identified in the risk assessment. b) for the life insurance sector:
20 19) the customer's request to change or increase the sum insured and/or premium payment is unusual or excessive; 20) the transactions carried out, insurance premiums paid by third parties unknown to the customer or not associated with the customer; 21) the beneficiary of the insurance policy and/or the agent/intermediary in insurance and/or reinsurance has residence in or is associated with jurisdictions with a high risk of money laundering and terrorism financing; 22) the client is represented by another person authorized to act on their behalf; 23) other factors identified during the risk assessment. 58. Non-bank financial institutions apply enhanced customer due diligence measures, in addition to those set out in point 26, in situations which, by their nature, may present an increased risk of money laundering or terrorism financing, at least by:
21 2) takes measures to protect the authenticity of documents in electronic form transmitted to the non-bank financial institution; 3) uses information provided by a partner (provider, agent, bank) with which the customer has an account and which applies at least the same know-yourcustomer measures and is subject to effective supervision; 4) requires that the first payment be made on behalf of the customer through an account opened with another bank which applies at least the same know-yourcustomer measures and is subject to effective supervision, if necessary; 5) establishes and maintains a means of contact with the customer, independent of the method used for conducting remote transactions with the customer. 60. In transactions or business relationships with politically exposed persons, family members of politically exposed persons and persons known to be close associates of politically exposed persons, the non-bank financial institution, in addition to the due diligence measures outlined in points 25 and 26, takes measures that include:
22 b) conduct an enhanced review of the entire business relationship with the insured; c) report to the Office for Prevention and Fight against Money Laundering the payment transaction of the of the proceeds of the insurance policy. 62. In business relationships or transactions with customers and financial institutions from countries (jurisdictions) with an increased risk designated/monitored by FATF, in addition to the enhanced due diligence measures set out in this Chapter, the non-bank financial institution applies, in accordance with the actions required by the FATF and depending on the risk, one or more of the following measures:
23 3) ensuring continuous training of its own staff and brokerage assistants on the applicable legal requirements in the field of prevention and combating of money laundering and terrorism financing, as well as the programme, internal policies and procedures of the insurance and/or reinsurance broker, in order to prevent and combat money laundering and terrorism financing through insurance or reinsurance activities; 4) providing guidance and assistance to the brokerage assistant to ensure compliance with the insurance and/or reinsurance broker's anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing programme. 65. The insurance and/or reinsurance broker monitors the activity of the brokerage assistant to ensure that the assistant properly implements the requirements of the insurance and/or reinsurance broker's anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism programme. The extent and nature of the monitoring of the brokerage assistant depend on the volume of the brokerage assistant's operations, the monitoring method used (manual, automated or combined), the results of previous monitoring (if any), the types of clients and the type of life insurance offered to the clients. As part of monitoring the activity of the brokerage assistant and applying the risk-based approach, the insurance and/or reinsurance broker identifies the specific risk criteria for assigning a risk level to the brokerage assistant and reviews the assigned risk level if necessary. The specific criteria defined for this purpose must be periodically reviewed to determine whether they are appropriate for the established risk levels. 66. The insurance and/or reinsurance broker, in order to manage and minimize the specific risks arising from the activity of a brokerage assistant implements at least the following measures:
24 3) customer transactions conducted through a single operation the value of which is at least MDL 200 000, and which do not fall under the provisions of subpoint 2) - by the 10th of the month following the month in which the transactions were carried out. 68. The non-bank financial institution will have:
25 3) retaining records related to the identification and verification of customers, beneficial owners, monitoring of customer transactions and keeping supporting documents related to transactions; 4) storing information on operations carried out (type, volume, destination, etc.), including complex and unusual operations; 5) archiving records of customer and beneficial owner identity, transaction information and business correspondence in a secure and operationally accessible manner. 73. At the request of the Office for Prevention and Fight against Money Laundering or the National Bank of Moldova, in accordance with Article 9, paragraph (21) of Law No 308/2017 on the prevention and combating of money laundering and terrorism financing, the non-bank financial institution extends the retention period for certain types of documents and information referred to in point 71, for a period not exceeding 5 additional years. CHAPTER XI INTERNAL CONTROL SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS 74. The non-bank financial institution establishes policies, procedures and maintains an internal control system that ensures continuous compliance with normative acts, as well as an internal programme in the field of prevention and combating of money laundering and terrorism financing that will contribute to minimizing the associated risks. 75. The internal control system of a non-bank financial institution depends on a number of factors, including the nature, scale and complexity of the non-bank financial institution's business, the diversity of its operations, including its customer base, product and business profile, the level of risk associated with each jurisdiction of its operations and its distribution channels, i.e. the extent to which the non-bank financial institution interacts directly with its customer or through its agents. 76. The insurance and/or reinsurance broker, who conducts business through brokerage assistants, is required to include the brokerage assistants in the internal control system in order to verify their compliance with the provisions of the internal programme for the prevention and combating of money laundering and terrorism financing. 77. The internal control system of the non-bank financial institution will include the following elements:
26 2) designation of persons responsible for ensuring the compliance of the nonbanking financial institution with the normative acts in force on the prevention and combating of money laundering and terrorism financing. The person with senior management responsibilities, appointed from among the members of the Board of the non-banking financial institution and/or the executive body, has at least the following duties: a) advises the employees of the non-bank financial institution on issues arising during the implementation of the programme for the prevention and combating of money laundering and terrorism financing, including the identification and examination of the non-bank financial institution's customers and the assessment of the risk of money laundering and terrorism financing; b) takes decisions on the basis of the information received; c) takes measures regarding the reporting of information to the Office for Prevention and Fight against Money Laundering in accordance with the legislation; d) organizes the training of non-bank financial institution employees in the field of prevention and combating of money laundering and terrorism financing, including brokerage assistants by insurance and/or reinsurance brokers; e) cooperates with the audit department in order to verify the compliance of the non-bank financial institution's activity with the legislation in the field of prevention and combating of money laundering and terrorism financing; f) performs other functions in accordance with this Regulation and the internal documents of the non-bank financial institution. 78. The person conducting the audit of the non-bank financial institution reviews the implementation of the programme for the prevention and combating of money laundering and terrorism financing by the non-bank financial institution and submits a written report on the results of the analysis to the senior management of the non-bank financial institution. 79. The non-bank financial institution will have in place programs for the selection and continuous training of staff in the field of prevention and combating of money laundering and terrorism financing. The non-bank financial institution ensures that its staff have the appropriate knowledge, skills and abilities to effectively fulfil the responsibilities of compliance with the requirements for the prevention and combating of money laundering and terrorism financing. 80. The screening and training programs indicated in point 79 will cover various aspects of the process of preventing and combating money laundering and terrorism financing and the obligations under the relevant legislation, including:
27 The content and programme of the staff training must be adapted to the individual needs of the non-bank financial institution. 81. When establishing branches or representative offices in the territory of other countries, as well as during their activity, under the conditions of the legislation, the non-bank financial institution applies the requirements and measures to prevent and combat money laundering and terrorism financing in accordance with its own internal control system, internal policies and procedures and the regulatory acts of the Republic of Moldova, to the extent permitted by the legislation of the host country. If the requirements to prevent and combat money laundering and terrorism financing in the host country are insufficient, the nonbank financial institution must ensure the implementation of the requirements set forth in the regulatory acts of the Republic of Moldova, to the extent permitted by the host country’s legislation. If the host country does not allow the proper application of the requirements of the regulatory acts of the Republic of Moldova, the non-bank financial institution applies appropriate additional measures to mitigate the risk of money laundering and terrorism financing and informs the National Bank of Moldova within two months. The National Bank of Moldova may apply supervisory measures in accordance with the legal framework to ensure that branches opened in other countries comply with the regulatory acts related to the given field. If non-compliance is found, the National Bank of Moldova may restrict the activity or withdraw the approval granted for opening branches in the territory of other countries. In application of this point, the National Bank of Moldova issues technical standards regarding the type of additional measures, as well as the minimum actions to be taken by the non-bank financial institution in case the legal requirements of another country (jurisdiction) do not permit the implementation of the measures outlined in this point. 82. The non-bank financial institution communicates and implements the provisions of its own programmes for the prevention and combating of money laundering and terrorism financing within its branches, representative offices and other subdivisions, including those located in other countries. In order to prevent and combat money laundering and terrorism financing, the non-bank financial institution exchanges data with its branches, representative offices and other subdivisions, provided that the requirements of the normative acts are met. 83. In the case of opening branches in the territory of other countries, at the financial group level, the internal control system and the programme for the prevention and combating money laundering and terrorism financing will include, in addition to the elements established in points 77, 79, 80, the following additional elements:
28 CHAPTER XII REQUIREMENTS FOR THE APPLICATION OF INTERNATIONAL RESTRICTIVE MEASURES 84. The non-bank financial institution immediately applies restrictive measures related to terrorist activities and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction with respect to assets, including those obtained from or generated by assets owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, wholly or jointly, by persons, groups and entities involved in terrorist activities and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction subject to restrictive measures, as well as by persons, groups and entities acting on behalf of, at the direction of, owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such persons, groups and entities. 85. For the application of restrictive measures in accordance with point 84, the non-bank financial institution develops internal rules and procedures which must include at least the following elements:
29 2) immediately informs, but not later than 24 hours from the moment of applying the restrictive measure, the Office for Prevention and Fight against Money Laundering about the indefinite abstention from the execution of activities and transactions. The information sent to the aforementioned authority includes at least the following elements: a) data and information (name of individual/legal entity; IDNO/IDNP, if any; country of origin/residence; list of the competent authority/organization to which the restrictive measure applied refers, etc.) on the identified person, group or entity; b) data and information (volume; currency; payee; destination, etc.) about the identified asset; c) informing on the decision of the person responsible with senior management functions of the non-bank financial institution to refrain, for an indefinite period, from carrying out activities and transactions in relation to the identified asset; 3) if applicable, the non-bank financial institution accepts additional payments, made by a third party, or the increase in the value of assets on which the restrictive measures have been applied and extends the applicability of the restrictive measures to the additional assets, taking into account the requirements of point 86 subpoint 1), and also informs the Office for Prevention and Fight against Money Laundering thereof, taking into account the requirements of point 86 subpoint 2) (a) and (b); 4) informs the National Bank of Moldova about the restrictive measures applied, taking into account the requirements of point 86, subpoint 2) (a) and (b)." 87. In case of doubts or suspicions that do not allow for a firm belief as to the identity of the person, group or entity included in the list referred to in Article 34 paragraph (11) of Law No 308/2017 on the prevention and combating of money laundering and terrorism financing, the non-bank financial institution informs the Office for Prevention and Fight against Money Laundering without delay, no later than within 24 hours. 88. The non-bank financial institution continuously monitors the official websites of the United Nations, the European Union and the Intelligence and Security Service to ensure the proper application of restrictive measures on persons, groups and entities involved in terrorist activities and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. CHAPTER XIII OTHER PROVISIONS 89. In the event of a violation of the provisions of this Regulation, of the obligations set out by the legislation on the prevention and combating of money laundering and terrorism financing, the National Bank of Moldova applies sanctions in accordance with the legislation in force. 90. In the application of this Regulation, the non-bank financial institution informs the National Bank of Moldova about suspicious activities and fraud incidents that pose significant risks to the safety, sound operation or reputation of the non-bank financial institution.